Vikings panic meter after very concerning Week 2 loss to Falcons

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson | David Berding/GettyImagesThe Minnesota Vikings' plans to move to 2-0 in the 2025 season came to a crashing halt on Sunday Night Football, as J.J. McCarthy was unable to replicate his National Championship victory when Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons pulled off a dominant 22-6 win.

Even though the Vikings are 1-1 after a late comeback against the rival Chicago Bears, alarm bells are starting to go off in Minnesota. The Vikings have played eight quarters this season, and they have been a thoroughly below-average team in seven of them.

Should fans who expected Minnesota to once again challenge for a postseason spot after a 14-3 campaign last year…